desensitize
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“One of the things that we teach them to do is to massage that over repeatedly throughout the day, to desensitize it,” April says.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2024
"If we can increase levels of GDF15 before someone becomes pregnant, that might desensitize them, similar to how we try to desensitize people to allergens who have severe allergies," says Fejzo.
From Science Daily ● May 22, 2024
Fejzo says one way to turn the findings into a treatment might be to give GDF15 pre-pregnancy to help desensitize high-risk people to the hormone.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 13, 2023
“The perpetrators of this crime do so in the hope that it will harass and intimidate Jewish families, radicalize others, or desensitize some to the messaging,” the motion adds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 28, 2023
Riding in the open air is better than not being in the open air at all, but it does not compare in its power to desensitize people with active exercise in the open air.
From Health Through Will Power by James J. (James Joseph) Walsh
“We hear stuff like this all the time. It just desensitizes you to there being an actual threat, knock on wood.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
“It desensitizes you to handcuffs, to steel, to concrete, to cold, to institutions,” said Roybal, now 38 and a physical therapist.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 10, 2023
Interestingly, a diet high in these foods also desensitizes the taste system, making animals and humans perceive food as less sweet.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2022
In addition to killing cavity-causing bacteria, the treatment hardens tooth structure, desensitizes the tooth and even stops new cavities from forming.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 11, 2020
Nadeau desensitizes allergic kids to allergens through exposure.
From Slate ● Mar. 11, 2013
I hear this narrative a lot, like, people are so plugged into social media and desensitized to violence that we just don’t care about anyone else anymore.
From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026
Reactions to other recent reports have been muted as well, with investors seemingly desensitized to Nvidia’s big numbers.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 23, 2026
“You almost get desensitized to it,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026
Investors have become desensitized to risk as the 2008-09 financial crisis fades from memory, Block believes.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2025
Rowan hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now he understood; it stopped being gleaning the moment one became desensitized to the act.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
![]()
Skylar King, who’s performing at the show, said she had a week of long conversations with her fellow performers on how to joke about climate change without desensitizing people to the seriousness of the topic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2024
Trainers begin by desensitizing the chimps to the sound, doling out bananas, Cheerios or other treats as it plays.
From New York Times ● Aug. 8, 2023
In the 2009 study above, 17% of women reported experiencing low-grade desensitizing affects that lasted anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2023
It works by desensitizing the nerves in the skin that transmit an itch sensation.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
But this morning I noticed a real improvement when I went through the massage and desensitizing routine.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
![]()
Vocabulary lists containing desensitize
Common Senses: Sent, Sens ("Feel")
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: February 19 - 23, 2018
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Running Dream
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!